Once upon a time, inflammation

Abstract

Inflammation has accompanied humans since their first ancestors appeared on Earth. Aulus Cornelius Celsus (25 BC-50 AD), a Roman encyclopedist, offered a still valid statement about inflammation: "Notae vero inflammationis sunt quatuor: rubor et tumor cum calore and dolore", defining the four cardinal signs of inflammation as redness and swelling with heat and pain. While inflammation has long been considered as a morbid phenomenon, John Hunter (18^th century) and Elie Metchnikoff (19^th century) understood that it was a natural and beneficial event that aims to address a sterile or an infectious insult. Many other famous scientists and some forgotten ones have identified the different cellular and molecular players, and deciphered the different mechanisms of inflammation. This review pays tribute to some of the giants who made major contributions, from Hippocrates to the late 19^th and first half of the 20^th century. We particularly address the discoveries related to phagocytes, diapedesis, chemotactism, and fever. We also mention the findings of the various inflammatory mediators and the different approaches designed to treat inflammatory disorders.

Keywords: Antibiotics; Antiseptics; Diapedesis; Fever; Historical review; Inflammation; Phagocytosis.

Figure 1.. Elie Metchnikoff (1845-1916) conducted major investigations on inflammation. He and his collaborators defined phagocytosis, discovered alveolar macrophages, microglial cells, observed opsonisation, chemotactism, efferocytocis pinocytosis and netosis. Left: photo of Elie Metchnikoff taken by Nadar in 1905. Center: His lectures on inflammation at Institut Pasteur. Right: Sculpture made by Olga his wife. Copyright by Institut Pasteur/Musée Pasteur.